Rs 135-crore makeover on the cards for Aarey colony road

After several complaints of the backbreaking drives on the pothole-ridden stretch, Public Works Department officials propose to convert it from tar to a concrete stretch

After motorists raised a stink over the pathetic, pothole-ridden condition of the important Aarey Milk Colony Road, officials from the Public Works Department (PWD) have swung into action. Authorities have sent a proposal to concretise the entire stretch of the road, which is estimated to cost Rs 135 crore.

PWD officials have set up a camera to record how many vehicles use the important Aarey Milk Colony Road. They hope to use this data to also figure out if indeed bikes should have to pay toll

Official speakSpeaking to MiD DAY, PWD Executive Engineer PP Darade said, “We are aware of the poor condition of the Aarey Milk Colony Road and so that motorists don’t face similar problems in the future, we have plans to convert the road from tar to concrete.”

Keeping that aim in mind, for the last eight days, officials have been carrying out a 24-hour survey to check how many vehicles use the important road, which connects the Western Express Highway with Powai and Marol.

Officials added that the data collected will also help in deciding if two wheelers should pay toll in the future. A PWD official added, “The 24/7 survey has been going on for some days now. We expect the Cabinet Committee on infrastructure to clear the project in its next meeting, so that we can go ahead with the tendering process.”

The conversion of the road from tar to concrete is expected to cost Rs 135 crore and will take a year to complete. It should be noted that in the past, MiD DAY has published several reports on the shabby condition of the road ('Toll charged to use Aarey Colony road in Mumbai raises stink', June 24, 2013 and 'Repaired’ potholes turn to craters in two weeks', July 4).

Did you know?25,000: Number of vehicles that ply on the road on a daily basisRs 3.5 lakh: Revenue generated from toll each day on the road